How Long Will My Fat Transfer Last in Different Parts of My Body?

Hi, I’m Dr. Daniel Shapiro I’m a plastic surgeon certified by the American board of plastic surgery, and all I perform is cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgery.

I’ve been practicing in the Scottsdale Paradise valley area since 1992, and I have been performing fat transfer or fat injections for 15 years now I think it’s a fantastic procedure.

A very common question that patients ask is how long to these transfers last and where and how is it different in different parts of the body. The first thing to understand about fat transfers is it’s completely technique dependent. Which means it is dependent on who’s doing it. Having done it for 15 years I think that I’ve got quite an experience and probably more than just about anybody in the Scottsdale paradise valley area. Specifically I’ve learned over time a very precise technique and one I use daily I think I use fat transfers for like 4-5 of the week in my practice I think it’s very important I think it’s very important to handle that fat carefully.

The reason being is that we are not asking that fat to be a filler we are asking it to be a transplant so we want that fat to have its own blood supply so how does it do that well first of all the donors site when I take the fat I take it through very small cannulas.

Which means the diameter of the cannula is very small and I also take it with a syringe with a very low pressure I think that as little trauma to the fat cells and then after that they are purified or centrifuged in a very atraumatic fashion I think that also lends itself to increase its survival after that when I have the purified fat I will inject it through very small cannulas. The most common cannulas I use at least in the face are less than a millimeter in diameter. So there either .7 or .9 millimeters in diameter that fat is put in atraumatically so it’s put in very delicately with very little pressure and it’s put in different levels so that insures increased survival in my fat.

I would say beneath the eyes almost last completely so it’s very uncommon for me to have to reinject beneath the eyes other eyes where I inject would be the nasolabial folds around the mouth or lips the jaw line and the temples the rest of the face its uncommon for me to have to reinject fat again so that longevity is close to complete. In areas where there is a lot of motion like the lips and corners mouth I think that generally 50%-60% of my fat lasts. So it’s not uncommon for me to go ahead and reinject in the office under local anesthesia. Areas of the face that tend to be unpredictable are the temples and for that reason either quite commonly I’ll have to reinject or I’ll put a soft tissue filler in if we are not happy with the fat transfer.

The reason being for that is the plains or the tissue beneath the skin where the fat is injected is not predictable so the fat long jeopardy is not predictable. So across the board I’d say that beneath the eyes my fat lasts almost completely as well as the nasolabial folds and jaw line again almost completely. In the lips and corners of the mouth quite often I have to reinject in the temples occasionally I have to reinject again. Areas of the body do I inject fat and is very common for me to do a Brazilian butt lift. So that is fat injections to the rear end to increase projection, perkiness and fullness I will take that fat from areas of the body where I am performing liposuction and purify that and reinject that delicately. I’ve seen my hands I have not had to reinject fat for volume, occasionally I’ve had to reinject for a little bit of contour symmetry but generally my fat injections for volume last for about 50%-80% but enough that I will over fill and consequently I don’t need to go back and fill again. Other areas where I inject would be the thighs to give people a little bit more feminine contour. Again generally I don’t have to go back and reinject again. Another area where I inject in men is the chest to increase their pectoral projection for the pectorals implants again I have not had to go back and reinject the chest.

Now fat injection for breast augmentation is a different situation in patients that I will increase volume may go from an A to a B cup or B cup to a C cup I have not had to go back and reinject fat I find that my fat is long lasting but I will overfill to take up or take in to consideration some of the re-absorption.

I say in those situations probably between 60%-80% of my fat will last in patients that want bigger augmentation so going from 2 cups like an A to a C generally they need 2 sessions of fat transfer and in the certain patients I will perform them in others i will recommend a breast augmentation with a implant.
Whether silicone or saline so overall I think the most important deciding factor with fat longevity is who is performing it what their technique is like discus that with them discuss how long they’ve been performing fat transfer ask how it’s done ask about reinjection but this is a hot topic now I think people are finally jumping on board but buyer beware make sure your plastic surgeon is very very experienced in fat transfers make sure to see before and afters.

I think when someone goes on the internet they should look and see if the fat is included in the face lifts if you will or blepharoplasty almost always performed at the same time of my facial rejuvenative surgery a very common procedure for me is the Brazilian butt lift not many doctors do it I think well so all and all go see a plastic surgeon that performs a lot of fat transfers and what the options and policies are for reinjection. Thank you.

Meet Dr. Daniel Shapiro

A world-class plastic surgeon in a league of his own.

Dr. Shapiro is an award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon with over 27 years of experience in his field. With impressive technical skill and a talent for creating natural-looking results, his practice has become a leading destination for discerning patients throughout the country.

Known for his compassion and honesty, Dr. Shapiro strives to educate his patients so that they are empowered about their care. He carefully explains the procedures, expected results, and techniques in a way that anyone can understand. Additionally, he personally guides his clients every step of the way – from the initial consultation to their post-operative care – to ensure an enjoyable experience and the best possible results.

Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19

Dear Patients,

It is with great pleasure that I announce the reopening of my practice for both surgical and non-surgical services on May 1, 2020. As per the governor Ducey's executive order on April 22, 2020, elective surgery has been allowed to proceed, with appropriate precautions taken by health care professionals to ensure continued vigilance against the spread of Covid-19.

Our office staff and the staff of Paradise Valley Cosmetic Surgery Center and Surgical Recovery Center have proactively taken necessary precautions to meet strict criterion for health providers according to the state of Arizona. These include necessary patient screening for Covid-19, strict protocols for cleaning offices and treatment rooms, adequate PPE, and continued social distancing. As before, waiting areas will have minimal capacity, and friends and family members should not accompany one into offices or treatment areas.

With great anticipation we welcome you back to the practice, and wish you all continued health and safety.